40 Days of Prayer - Holy Saturday

“He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” –  Romans 4:25

The day after Jesus died His friends and family and followers were alone and did not know if He would really rise again. Imagine how they felt, and how others feel who do not have Jesus in their lives. Jesus combined endless love with epic suffering, standing in solidarity with those who also suffered. Pray that we too will stand in love for those who suffer the unimaginable. Ask God to give us the grace and compassion to stand in the gap on behalf of the most vulnerable. 

40 Days of Prayer - Day 39

“…knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” – Romans 6:6

The Crucifixion is the most scandalous event in history. This is how the world meant to put a stop to Jesus and all that He was about. He came to proclaim good news to the poor, set the captives free, to bring sight to the blind, give liberty to the oppressed. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice and for showing us an excellent way. As we remember the weight of what Jesus did for us on the cross, pray for God to transform our hearts; compelling us to lay down our lives as living sacrifices. Let us begin our prayer in two minutes of silence as we remember the one who gave everything for our freedom. 

40 Days of Prayer - Day 36

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. – Psalm 100:3  

God created each of us in his image. We were wonderfully and beautifully made by the Almighty Creator. Pray that you will believe this truth and treat others as people who are beautifully and wonderfully created by God. Ask Him to give you the eyes to see and the ears to hear what God is doing through others around you.  

40 Days of Prayer - Day 35

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? - Matthew 16:26

The Hands at Work core values help to guide us and to examine whether what we do is an honest reflection of who we are:  

• Loving God and our neighbour

• Reaching the poorest of the poor

• Living servanthood

• Supporting local community ownership

• Valuing relationships

• Prioritising God, family, ministry

• Being accountable

• Giving freely

We invite you to ask yourself and contemplate how these core values can be a part of your life. 

40 Days of Prayer - Sixth Sunday

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. – John 13:12-17

On Sundays, we pause to anticipate the coming of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

40 Days of Prayer - Day 34

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:5-8

God’s great work of redemption begins with every single follower of Christ. Pray that you will be fully reliant on Him, sold-out to His call on your life. Ask God to give you a deeper understanding of who He is and what His will is for your life. Ask Him to expose the areas that are hindering you from completely surrendering your life to Christ and preventing you from serving those around you. Allow God to transform, renew and mould you into the person He has created you to be.